How do you tell if your anchor is set?

[joelfernandes]

We use our boat in the Chesapeake, where the water isn’t clear, the bottom is very soft, and there is often wind/currents.

We’ve had issues with setting the anchor. It seems to be set initially (verified by putting boat in neutral and feeling the anchor “grab” the boat forward) but then after a while, if it’s windy, we sometimes start to drag. As a result, we are constantly paranoid that we are drifting.

For reference we have a 34’ Searay with factory anchor.

Anybody have tips to share?

EDIT: Thank you all for these tips— this is going to be a huge help to us. I really appreciate it!!

 

[racerone]

Use 2 anchors perhaps.-------You put the boat in reverse and give that anchor a good pull to set it.------A bigger anchor is hard to find when you need it.-----Likely the factory one is too small or the wrong type.------Talk to your local boat shops to see what their customers use in your area.------Perhaps a length of chain added helps too.

 

[dingbat]

Where are you at on the Bay?

What kind of anchor are you using?
What size and how much chain?
What scope are you using?

90% of the people I’ve watched trying to anchor in the Bay are using no where close to enough line when anchoring.

 

[tpenfield]

:welcome: to iBoats. . . .

A softer/muddy bottom should allow the anchor to set easily. How much scope are you putting out? Often people do not put out enough scope and the anchor initially 'sets' but then pulls out as you indicated.

In tight quarters you may need a stern anchor to keep the boat from swinging too much.

Your anchor should be about a 33 lb. version. What type of anchor is it?

I started with a 25# Danforth anchor, but it would only hold in the best of conditions. Went with a 33# Claw/Bruce and never looked back.

 

[dingbat]

Comparing anchor types for use in the Chesapeake.
http://www.allatsea.net/best-anchor-for-mud/

 

[cptbill]

Set the anchor alarm on your plotter or zoom in tight and observe for a little bit, remember if your in anything other than calm water you should be using 10:1 on the anchor rode or more and you should be using a descent length of chain to insure the anchor lays on the bottom and digs in

 

[racerone]

Where I used to cruise the folks already anchored would come up on deck at about 3 PM.------Just for the free entertainment of the next 15 boats coming in to anchor.-------Buddy used to snorkel down to check on our anchor.----One time he came up and said ---"get me some rope "-------We brought up an anchor that he said was just sitting there on the bottom not dug in and nothing attached.-------We can only assume one mate was upset with her hubby for making her do the work.-----So one time she did as told and ----" threw the anchor in "-----Likely told her hubby to do it himself from then on.

 

[Scott Danforth]

how much chain do you have?
how much scope to the rode are you running?
what kind of anchor and what does it weigh?

the Chesapeake has depths up to 175 feet. so you would need 1750 feet of rope and about 30 feet of chain to anchor there


I have also found a few anchors not attached. either they used a snap hook (very stupid) or the rope came untied.

 

[Texasmark]

Around where I boat, Scope (length of anchor rope vs depth) of 3:1 in calm water and 10:1 for rivers and open water with an anchor suited to the bottom (Danforth preferred for light weight and holding power) and suitable chain...heavier the water, longer/heavier the chain.

Idea on the chain is to let the chain take up the rise and fall of the waves leaving the shank of the anchor on the bottom for best holding power.....one end of the chain is riding up and down and the anchor end is squarely on the bottom.

 

[dingbat]

the Chesapeake has depths up to 175 feet. so you would need 1750 feet of rope and about 30 feet of chain to anchor there

Easier to move a boat length or two away and not anchor in Bloody Point Hole....lol

In reality, average depth of the Bay is 21 ft.

I carry 200’ of rope with 10’ chain with a #10 Fortress anchor. Use 100’ or less 95% of the time.

 

[StingrayMike]

I do what captbill says. Set anchor point on chartplotter and watch for drift. You should also be able to set a drift alarm as well.
I had issues getting my anchor to set, went a bought a Mantus. Sets first time every time in all types of bottom

 

[Scott Danforth]

Easier to move a boat length or two away and not anchor in Bloody Point Hole....lol

In reality, average depth of the Bay is 21 ft.

I carry 200’ of rope with 10’ chain with a #10 Fortress anchor. Use 100’ or less 95% of the time.

you know there is the one boater that would want to anchor there....

 

[four winns 214]

You may already know these definitions, but if you don't and for others reading this thread:

Anchor rode: The combined chain and line attached to the anchor to hold the boat

Scope: The ratio of depth of water + distance from anchor pulpit to water surface to the amount of anchor rode out. Example: For a 3 to 1 scope in water 20' deep in a boat with an anchor pulpit 5' above the water surface let out 75' of anchor rode (25' x 3). A scope of 3 to 1 is minimum on a calm day with little wind or current. If there is a lot of wind or heavy current or swells and/or chop, use a scope of 7 to 1. In the previous example, that's 175' of rode. For storm conditions use 10 to 1.

Swing: The arc over which the boat may move when influenced by wind, current, or tide. The anchor is the pivot point. The greater the scope, the wider the swing. When anchoring near other vessels or shore, make sure you have enough room to swing.

Many boaters fail to have enough chain on their anchor rode. For a 34' boat, 10' of chain would be the absolute minimum. More is better. A general rule of thumb is one foot of chain for each foot of boat water line. My 27' Ranger Tug has 50' of 5/16" G4 chain and 140' of 5/8" 3-strand nylon line. My boat is a lot smaller than yours and probably weighs 1/3 less.

 

[mike_i]

I only do saltwater so maybe the rule of thumb is different in fresh water. If I remember correctly from the Coast Guard auxiliary class from 30 plus years ago, the amount of chain recommended was 1 1/2 times the length of your boat. How much chain do you have?

 

[Captain Caveman]

To directly answer the OP's question, you can only tell whether your anchor is set if boat starts moving! I think that your problem has been addressed....more rope (and chain if not there). Hopefully you're not using a mushroom anchor for that boat!

 

[captaintaylor]

To directly answer the OP's question, you can only tell whether your anchor is set if boat starts moving! I think that your problem has been addressed....more rope (and chain if not there). Hopefully you're not using a mushroom anchor for that boat!

Plus 1 on this. Sometimes you just need to be patiently and see where you boat is staying relative to landmarks.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

As Captain Cavemen said you are anchored when the boat doesn't move any longer. I pick out a spot on land and watch it, if the land is moving so is the boat.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Put the boat in reverse and watch your speed on the GPS.If it drops to zero, the anchor is set. I recently replaced a CQR (that set in a "mushy" manner that often left me feeling uneasy) with a Rocna Vulcan. The Vulcan sets almost violently. There's no doubt whatsoever when it grabs. I am very pleased with the Vulcan.

 

[prlwng]

I know salt is dif from my fresh water, but here goes.

1650 vhull, fished below Missouri river dams. Have two main anchors I use there. One is a homemade lawn mower blade one another is a heavey, for pontoons, Cat River anchor. If homemade one is not holding will use Cat River. Have about four foot of heavey chain. 100 foot rope. The chain is what we use to tie equipment onto semis. The current many times will drift you at over 5mph by gps. A small drift sock helps on sway. Depths are about 15 to 30 foot.

My main problem is the mud that will stay on blades of anchors. This makes them very heavy to retrive. If they get stuck, yes they do, you motor past anchor, break zip tie, pull up backwards.

You talked of finding anchors. Got a mushroom up one time that I snaged the rope of. Took a bit to bring it up but 50lb braid and heavey rod got it. First thought it mighta been another big snapper turtle.

 

[thatone123]

One time on a big northern river commercial fishing for salmon I used an old 40 hp Johnson for an anchor on the big Salmon net in a large deep whirlpool. The fish and game checked the net and reported a hell of a time pulling that old motor up. There were also a few 30 to 50 lb. King Salmon in the net.